Agenda item

(1)       Mrs Angell as Chairman of the Select Committee said that its work had found  pockets of good practice but more needed to be done.  She said it was important to build on what was already around and look at different ways of doing things.  Localism and how people accessed democracy had to be at the top of the agenda and people needed to know that the opinions which they expressed would be listened to and acted upon.  Mrs Angell said that the Select Committee also discovered that KCC employees were not always aware of the role of Members or what they needed in the way of support in undertaking their constituency duties.    Also consideration needed to be given as to how local people would like to take the democracy agenda forward – one size did not fit all – and therefore Kent County Council and elected Members needed to use innovation and be flexible in order o achieve best outcomes.  Mrs Angell said the Select Committee also believed that secondary schools should be encouraged to embrace democracy and to help achieve this school councils should be encouraged to operate through out the age range and therefore this should also include primary schools.  The Select Committee also believed that all elected Members should be involved in Schools Democracy week and  links between school councils, KCC and district, town and parish councils should be promoted.  Mrs Angell also highlighted the Select Committee’s recommendation that the opportunity for participatory budgeting from devolved  discretionary funds should be provided within the next budget year, with delivery mechanisms to be determined, and a sum of underpinning monies be provided to enable local people to determine how the resources should be spent.

(2)       Mr Brazier said  the researches of the Select Committee had shown that there was a significant proportion of people who did not understand democratic structures.  He said some of the recommendations may appear well worn but they nonetheless remained relevant and valid.  Mr Brazier said that whilst the report contained some recommendations related to the Localism Agenda that was not because this was fashionable but because it was essential for the healthy future of democracy.  Mr Brazier also said that if the administration was willing to accept that elected Members, with appropriate training where that might be necessary, were capable of exercising significant devolved powers and resources and could co-operate with other tiers of local government then may be the current failure of engagement could, to some extent, be corrected.  Mr. Brazier also said that the Council for all its emphasis on communication was still misunderstood and considered remote.  That view needed to be dealt with by having more better trained, motivated and diverse elected Members who were able to say yes to people on matters of local issues.  Mr Brazier also spoke about the possibility of having a dedicated Member of Cabinet promoting the Democracy and Localism agenda and who could work with a permanent Committee of Members to ensure KCC was seen as being in the vanguard of local engagement and activity.  In conclusion, Mr Brazier said he hoped the recommendations within the report would be acted upon and taken forward.  Both Mrs. Angell and Mr. Brazier paid thanks to the Members of the Committee, to its officers and also to those witnesses who had given evidence.

(3)       Mr King said that when he had met with the Select Committee he had been impressed with its energy and depth of research which had been undertaken.  He said he did not think it would be possible to immediately implement all the recommendations but the report was central to a range of other activities and formed part of a jigsaw of other work aimed at improving the role of Members and improving local engagement.  Other Members who spoke also welcomed and endorsed the report and it was said  all 84 Members of the Council had to be committed to taking findings forward.  It was also said that it was important to note that the County Council was already undertaking a range of measures to improve communication through innovations such as web casting and Kent TV.  The was a need to look at how Members are supported in their role and what training they may need and this very much tied in with other strands of work.

(4)       In concluding the discussion, Mr. Carter thanked the Select Committee for its work and said that this had to be seen as part of a wider picture which included the work being currently undertaken through the Informal Member Groups on Member Development and Member Information.  All these streams of work needed to be brought together and discussed collectively so that Members of the Council could have  the opportunity to consider the total picture and how these matters should be taken forward.